Sobbing, elation at Simpson verdict

October 3, 1995
Web posted at: 6:45 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- In the seeming eternity before the
"not guilty" verdict was uttered, O.J. Simpson's face assumed
emotions at both ends of the spectrum. First he furrowed his
brow in seeming concern. Then he stiffened his jaw. Then he
smiled slightly. Then he looked more concerned. Moments
later, he was wearing a smile. And reactions from both
players and observers in this "verdict of the century"
revealed a similar array of responses.

Inside the courthouse: Hugs, 'heartwrenching sight'

The verdict brought tears to both sides. Just as Simpson's
son, Jason, sobbed with head in hands, so did Ronald
Goldman's sister, Kim. Simpson's daughter, Arnelle, hugged
her brother, reportedly saying, "We did it, Jason."

KCAL correspondent Frank Buckley said he focused on Goldman's
father, Fred, during that stunning moment. "Fred Goldman
closed his eyes as the verdict was read," Buckley said. When
he heard the words, "he looked as if he had been punched."
Nicole Brown Simpson's family bowed their heads as if in
shock. They remained stoically silent, though they looked
tearful.

Later, correspondent Jim Hill saw members of the victims'
families making their way through the courthouse hallway.
"It was a heartwrenching sight," said Hill, noting that
Goldman and Brown family members clutched each other, heads
down, crying out loud and gasping. A few minutes after the
families left the corridor, Hill said, he heard a man
screaming, "No! No! No!"

The jurors: Mostly silent

The jury sat stone-faced while the verdict was read, as it
has throughout the trial. Reporters in the courtroom said
jury members stared straight ahead, showing no visible
reaction. However, KCAL's Buckley said that one juror, a
middle-aged male, raised his fist in an apparent gesture of
solidarity to the defense as he exited the room. (248K
AIFF sound or 248K WAV sound) Buckley
said a female juror began crying, perhaps in response to
sobbing in the courtroom.

The judge announced that jurors have agreed not to speak to
attorneys or the media and said they want their private
information to remain confidential.

Outside the courthouse: Cheers, tears

Cheers erupted amidst the throngs surrounding the Los Angeles
Criminal Courts Building. Simpson supporters jumped up and
down, waving signs and yelling, as mounted policemen held
their position. At the AME Baptist Church, the largest
African-American congregation in the city, viewers sprang
from their seats in joy at the announcement of the verdict.

Defense witness Kathleen Bell cried, expressing concern over
her troubling role in the case. Although used by the defense
to discredit Mark Fuhrman, Bell believed Simpson was guilty.
"This is very hard to take," she told CNN. "Watching the
families crying is very difficult." Asked if she would come
forward again, if she had a chance to make the decision over,
she said, "Yes, unfortunately." Looking down, she trailed
off, saying, "... stupid."

The defense, Simpson family: 'Ecstatic'

The defense was predictably elated. Attorneys Johnnie
Cochran and Robert Shapiro held forth in a news conference,
supported by members of the Simpson family. "Mr. Simpson is
ecstatic," Cochran said. "We are all ecstatic."

Cochran thanked God, then introduced Jason Simpson, who read
a statement from his father. In it, Simpson reiterated that
he "would not, could not, did not" kill his ex-wife and
Goldman. He said he would devote his energies to finding the
real culprit behind the murders. (330K
AIFF sound or 330K WAV sound)
Simpson family members stressed their personal faith, strong bonds
and unwavering commitment to O.J.

Cochran ridiculed on the charge that verdict was based on
emotion rather than evidence. "If you watched the trial, the
idea that we didn't have the facts is preposterous," he said.
"... Before socks, gloves, Fuhrman, this case was based on
time." He said the defense showed Simpson would not have had
time to return home, dispose of evidence and clean up before
he first spoke to the limousine driver.

Asked about the "race card," Cochran said, "Race plays a part
of everything in America. ... In this case, it was introduced
by witness Mark Fuhrman."

And Shirley Baker, Simpson's sister, said, "We knew O.J. was
innocent, and we had all the confidence in the world in the
team that was put together. ...I just feel like standing on
top of this table and dancing a jig." (173K
AIFF sound or 173K WAV sound)

Robert Shapiro was asked about the perception that wealthy
Americans do better in court. "There's a lot of truth to
it," he said. "It worked both ways in this case. Our small
group of lawyers here were up against perhaps the most
intense investigation in the history of criminal justice. If
we did not have adequate resources, we wouldn't have been
able to (come through)."

The prosecution: `Profoundly disappointed'

Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti hosted a somber
prosecution news conference fraught with restrained emotion.
"We are all of us profoundly disappointed with the verdict,"
Garcetti said. (325K AIFF sound or 325K WAV sound) He opened with a request that "we remember
why we're here," invoking Goldman, Ms. Simpson, and "every
other victim of violent crime."

Garcetti urged that women who suffer domestic violence come
forward. "We know that there are women in fear," he said.
"Think of yourself. Think of the children."

The often-fiery lead prosecutor in the case, Marcia Clark,
appeared glazed as she thanked her legal team and the
victims' families for their "strength and dignity."
(288K AIFF sound
or 288K WAV sound)
"Everyone here has given their all ... in an effort to see
that the lives of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson were
not thrown away," she said.

Prosecutor Christopher Darden was more visibly upset. "I
never expected that I would be here in this place at the
time," he said as he began his statement. (168K
AIFF sound or 168K WAV sound) "We came here in
search of justice. You will have to be the judge as to
whether any of us found it today." After speaking a few
moments he broke off abruptly and left the podium overcome
with emotion.

Goldman's father, Fred, was similarly emotional, calling the
verdict the "second nightmare" in his life, along with the
murder of his son. "Justice was not served," he said. "I
and my family will do everything ... to bring about the
forces of change that won't allow what happened to our family
to ever happen again. ... I will forever be proud of my son
and my family."

"This was an emotional trial," Garcetti said. "...
Apparently, (the jury's) decision was based on emotion and
not on reason."